You read my mind, Kenny - I thought that very odd as well. Guess these were young parents, who didn't think that through.

But more importantly, what is happening to people to make them snap like this ... this young man sounded like he had so much going for him. Except I did hear that although he had a degree, masters I think, in neuroscience he still could only find a job in California at a McDonalds. That's why he came out here - to pursue a phd in his field. Something in his year of further study apparently caused a breakdown, but I know we will learn more about this as the story develops.

In early June, all the students at the Anshutz/CU School of Medicine who are going for a PhD (not a MD) take a 'preliminary exam', which can be brutal. It usually takes about a month to find out the results - and if you don't pass, you are either given a choice of withdrawing or - in his case - completing another masters degree. Which explains the language used by the school about how he was busy 'withdrawing' from the PhD.

I was staying with my wife and daughter in an apartment a few hundred yards behind the hospital when all this went on - we were up in Denver at Children's Hospital getting my daughter's knee taken care of, she had a complete tear on her ACL. Hearing all the sirens, I thought it was some enormous car wreck or something, and then found out in the morning what had happened.

You are not alone, plantlady! I moved to Colorado exactly one year ago today. In the past year there was the listeria outbreak, crazy weather, tornadoes, massive wildfires, and now a mass shooting. But there has also been new friends, new job, visiting family, health, and a new boyfriend. In times like this we need to remember all we have that is dear to us.